Here we have a 1972 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust reference 1601/4, with box and papers. It has a silver dial with the sunburst finish. It is an Asian market ‘No Lume’ variation, with the dished edge. It has a 36mm Stainless Steel Oyster case with screw down crown and case back. The bezel is fluted and is formed of 18k white gold. It is presented on a service replacement, 1988 folded link Jubilee bracelet ref 6251H, with 55 end links. It is a full-length bracelet. Inside is the chronometer grade Rolex calibre 1570 automatic movement, which has been recently serviced. 
It was retailed by the N.A.A.F.I. (Navy Army and Air Force Institute) in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was purchased by Mr G. Peddie of H.M.S. Ariadne, R/N 9781. 
Rolex watches sold via the NAAFI were only purchasable by members of the armed forces.
It comes with its chronometer papers, original signed purchase guarantee document from the NAAFI dating to 13-06-1974, its hang tag, Datejust booklet, and your Rolex booklet. It comes with a 1994 Rolex service invoice and 2011 Rolex service card. 
 
It has the silver sunburst dial which is original and has a very light speckled patination. It is a relatively rare ‘No Lume’ variant, meaning that no luminous material was used on the dial or hands. Rolex came up with this solution to overcome the challenges of exporting watches to the Asian market. They had stringent import laws in place regarding chemical or radioactive goods. As such, Rolex went without Tritium on their dials to continue selling in the Asian market. 
It has the dished outer section which gives the dial a pie-pan-esq style. The applied baton hour markers have a frosted finish with a reeded texture which adds another dimension to the dial. The markers at 6 and 9 are larger, balancing with the date window at 3 and Rolex cornet at 12 O’clock. Below 12 o’clock the dial is signed with “Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Datejust”. Above 6 o’clock it has the “Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified” text. Below 6, it has the “T Swiss T” marking. The date window has the bevelled edge which falls to meet the date wheel. The wheel has the silver satin tone with the black Arabic numerals.
The hour and minute hands are of a tapered baton style with the bevel to the centre. This, along with the polished finish makes the hands interact with the light. The central second hand has the polished finish and the tapered design. The original acrylic crystal sits over the dial and has the Cyclops date magnifier. 
 
The case is of classic proportions, measuring 36mm in diameter with the 44mm lug to lug length and 20mm lug width. It is a Stainless-Steel oyster case with the brushed finish to the top of the case and the polished sides. It has a fluted bezel which is formed of 18ct white gold. The crown is the Oyster crown which screws down and is marked with the Rolex Cornet. The Oyster screw down case back has the coin edge, with the brushed finish to the face and polished surround. Inside it is signed with the reference 1601, with the date code IV.72, indicating production in the last quarter of 1972. It has multiple service etchings to the inside of the case.
 
The watch comes on a service replacement, 1988 folded link Jubilee bracelet ref 6251H, with 55 end links. It is in aged condition, with sag to the bracelet. It is full length with all the links, fitting up to an 8.5” wrist circumference. The bracelet has the brushed finish to the outside with polished centre links. The clasp is good with brushed finish and clear Cornet. 
 
The movement is a Rolex calibre 1570. It is an automatic movement with a jewel count of 26. It has a non-quickset date function, a hi-beat frequency of 21,600 BPH and a 48-hour power reserve. The movement has been recently serviced Its keeping time to within +10 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 300 degrees and a beat error of 0.1m/s.
 
As previously stated, the paperwork is signed with the retailer name NAAFI (Navy Army and Air Force Institute), Kowloon, Hong Kong. Rolex watches sold via the NAAFI were only purchasable by members of the armed forces. It was purchased by Mr G. Peddie, H.M.S. Ariadne, R/N 9781.
 
HMS Ariadne was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched on September 10th 1971, being commissioned on February 10th 1973. She was the last of the Leander class to be completed. It was sold to Chile in 1992 and sunk as a target hulk in 2004.
 
From January to October 1974, Ariadne in company with the guided missile destroyer Fife, Apollo, Argonaut, Danae, Londonderry and Scylla supported by oilers Tidespring and Tidereach and the stores ship Tarbatness, made a nine month deployment to the Far East, visiting Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius, South Africa and Gibraltar. 
 
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
 
Dial: 
The silver sunburst dial is original with a very light speckled patination. It has the dished outer section. The applied hour markers and cornet are good, without wear or corrosion. The signing is good and clear with no wear. There is one slight mark to the dial between the hand stack and signing below 12.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original of baton design in a silver tone. They are in good condition with little signs of ageing. The central second hand is original and good.
 
Glass: 
The acrylic crystal is original and is in good condition, with some light surface scratches.
 
Crown: 
The Steel Rolex crown is original and in good condition, functioning as it should, screwing down well. The thread is good.
 
Case:
The case is formed of Stainless Steel and is in decent condition with light surface scratching. The brushed finish on the top is good, with polished finish to the sides. The lugs are well shaped with little signs of wear to the drilled lugs. There are some marks to the brushed finish on the top left lug. The polished sides of the lugs have visible dints and scratching. The fluted bezel has some light marks.
 
Caseback:
The case back is stainless steel and is in good condition with the brushed finish to the face and polished surround. It has been refinished in the past and has some light marks and nicks. The coin edge is very good and sharp with no signs of poor opening attempts. 
 
Bracelet:
The watch comes on a service replacement, 1988 folded link Jubilee bracelet ref 6251H, with 55 end links. It is in aged condition, with sag to the bracelet. It is full length with all the links, fitting up to an 8.5” wrist circumference. The bracelet has the brushed finish to the outside with polished centre links. The clasp is good with brushed finish and clear Cornet. It has scratching associated with age.
 
Movement: 
The movement is a Rolex calibre 1570. It is an automatic movement with a jewel count of 26. It has a non-quickset date function. The movement has been recently serviced Its keeping time to within +10 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 300 degrees and a beat error of 0.1m/s.